Sep 30, 2008

Spread 2 teaspoon Maggi pizza mazza on a pizza base, arrange vegetables and sausages over it and sprinkle grated cheese on the top ( getting ready for baking ).

Bake at 250 * C for 15 minutes / till get golden colour

You can make home made pizzas very easily. All you need is an OTG ( oven- toaster- griller ), a packet of pizza base ( you'll get it from neighbourhood baker ), a bottle of Maggi pizza base, Amulmozerella cheese, a cup of vegetables ( capsicum, onion and tomato ) and a pack of chicken sausages ( Chicken sausage is optional ).

My son has invited his friends for Pizza party, I made 6 pizzas and they enjoyed well.

Let's find out the cost of home made pizzas

Maggi pizza mazza- Rs 49/ bottle

Amul Mozzarella Cheese - Rs50/ packet (50x2)=Rs 100

Pizza base -Rs 5 for 1 base (6X5 )= Rs 30

Chicken sausages ( a packet of 6 )- Rs51/ packet

Vegetables- Rs10

Total cost -Rs 240

If we order from pizza out lets it costs more than Rs1000 for 6 medium size pizzas( including tax, VAT, service charge and other charges ).

1. Heat the ghee in a saucepan; saute the onions till golden brown colour and add sliced tomatoes sauté well.2. Put ginger garlic paste, curd and biriyani masala and turmeric powder, and coriander powder.3. Add the chicken pieces and cook well.4. Soak the rice about 10 minutes and drain well.5. Melt the ghee in a saucepan and add in the spices and sliced onion mint, coriander leaves, cashew nuts, kismis, bay leaves and sauté till brown in colour.6. Add milk and water. Allow to boil and then add rice. Lower the heat, cover and continue to cook for 15 minutes. Drain rice. ( rice should not be over cooked. Cook the rice till 3/4 th done and grains remain seperate ).7. Take another saucepan and place half the rice into it. And add the chicken on the top of the rice. And put the remaining rice on top of the chicken. And spread to make an even layer.8. Make random holes through the rice with a spoon and pour into each a little saffron milk.9. Place a few knobs of ghee, fried onion, cashew nuts and kismis on the surface and cover tightly. Seal the edges with atta paste ( mix ¼ cup atta and water ). Keep this sauce pan over a Dosakkallu or Iron kadai. Cook on a slow flame for 15 minutes ( or bake in an oven at 350 * C for 20 minutes ). You should open the seal only at the time of serving. Serve with salad , pickle and pappadam.

Sep 29, 2008

Malabar cuisine is very famous not only in Kerala also worldwide ( especially in Arab countries ). All the foods are enriched with spices. This's the Holy month of Ramzan. So I thought of preparing something delicious and yummy. I used very less ghee for Neichoru and very less oil for chicken curry. Pappadamvaruthathu goes well with Neichoru ( optional ). I 'm sharing a simple '' Neichoru, Chicken curry,pappadadamvaruthathu, salad and pickle photos. Try this recipe also. You'll love it !!!

Recipe of Neichoru ( ghee rice )

Ingredients

Basmati rice - 1 cup

Water for soaking the basmati rice - 2 cups

Water for cooking - 2 1/2 cups

Salt - to taste

Onion- thinly sliced- 1/4 cup

Whole spices

Cardamon- 3

Cinnamon- 3 sticks ( 1 '' )

Cloves -3

Ghee - 2 teaspoon

For garnishing

Onion- thinly sliced- 2 tablespoon

or small onion- 5 ( thinly sliced

Cashew nuts -8

Kismis/ raisins - 10

Ghee- 1 teaspoon

Method

Wash and soak rice in water for half an hour. Drain it and spread on clean towel ( to get dryness for rice. You can start this rice preparation early ).

Grind 3, 4 and 5 into paste. Heat oil, Sauté onions and paste. Add chicken and Eastern Chicken Masala. Pour half cup water with salt to taste. Cook on a low flame. Season with curry leaf and mustard. (Coconut milk or fried coconut paste can also be added for taste).

Sep 28, 2008

If your skin feels like it's burning up from too much sun exposure or if itchy bug bites are driving you crazy, try using a little milk paste for soothing relief. Mix one part powdered milk with two parts water and add a pinch or two of salt. Dab it on the burn or bite. The enzymes in the milk powder will help neutralize the insect-bite venom and help relieve sunburn pain.

Makeup remover

When you run out of makeup remover and you can't get to the store, use powdered milk instead. Just mix 3 tablespoons powdered milk with 1/3 cup warm water in a jar and shake well. Add more water or powder as necessary to achieve the consistency of heavy cream. Now you are ready to apply your makeshift makeup remover with a face cloth. When you're done, wipe it off and rinse with water.

Give yourself a facialHere's another way to give yourself a fancy spa facial at home. Make a mask by mixing 1/4 cup powdered milk with enough water to form a thick paste. Thoroughly coat your face with the mixture, let dry completely, then rinse with warm water. Your face will feel fresh and rejuvenated.

Soften skinTreat yourself to a luxurious foamy milk bath. Toss 1/2 cup or so of powdered milk into the tub as it fills. Milk acts as a natural skin softener.

Clean and soften dirty handsYou come back from the garden with stained and gritty hands. Regular soap just won't do, but this will: Make a paste of oatmeal and milk and rub it vigorously on your hands. The stains will be gone and the oatmeal-and-milk mixture will soften and soothe your skin.

Pazham pori ( plantain fritters ) is one of the famous evening snack of Kerala. Because of it's huge popularity ( huge popularity through Indian railways !!! ) evening snack turned into all time favourite snack. It's available in ordinary restaurants, teashops, thattu kada and trains. If you travel by train -from Palakkad junction to Thiruvananthapuram central you can find out Pazha pori sellers with huge steel/ aluminum bowl with full of golden yellow colour pazham poris and paper plates. It's available early morning in Intercity express also. Ripe plantain costs Rs35- 40 in Chennai.

Petroleum JellyDuring home manicures, it's hard to keep the nail polish from running over on your cuticles. Petroleum jelly can help your manicures look more professional. Dab some along the base of your nails and the sides. If polish seeps off the nail during the manicure, all you do is wipe off the petroleum jelly and the sloppy nail polish is gone.

StyrofoamWhen applying nail polish, a foam pellet or a small chunk cut from a block of foam packaging placed between each finger or toe will help spread them apart and keep the polish unblemished until it can dry.

VinegarYou can soften the cuticles on your fingers and toes before manicuring them by soaking your digits in a bowl of undiluted white vinegar for five minutes.

Your nail polish will have a longer life expectancy if you first dampen your nails with some vinegar on a cotton ball and let it dry before applying your favorite polish.

Bath OilHeat 1/2 cup bath oil mixed with 1/2 cup water on High in your microwave for 30 seconds. Place the solution in a deep bowl and soak your fingers or toes in it for 10-15 minutes to soften cuticles or calluses. After drying, use a pumice stone to smooth over calluses or a file to push down cuticles. Follow up by rubbing in hand cream until fully absorbed.

Castor OilIf you were ever forced to swallow castor oil as a child, this may be a pleasant surprise: The high vitamin-E content of that awful-tasting thick oil can work wonders on brittle nails and ragged cuticles. And you don't have to swallow the stuff. Just massage a small amount on your cuticles and nails each day and within three months you will have supple cuticles and healthy nails.

Cooking SprayNeed your nail polish to dry in a hurry? Spray it with a coat of cooking spray and let dry. The spray is also a great moisturizer for your hands

Film CanistersCreate a small, spillproof carry case for nail polish remover by tucking a small piece of sponge into a plastic film canister. Saturate the sponge with polish remover and snap on the lid. For an emergency repair, simply insert a finger and rub the nail against the fluid-soaked sponge to remove the polish.

LemonsPamper your fingernails without the help of a manicurist. Add the juice of 1/2 lemon to 1 cup warm water and soak your fingertips in the mixture for 5 minutes. After pushing back the cuticles, rub some lemon peel back and forth against the nail.

MarshmallowsGet the comfort of a salon treatment when giving yourself a home pedicure. Just place marshmallows between your toes to separate them before you apply the nail polish.

MayonnaiseTo add some oomph to your fingernails, just plunge them into a bowl of mayonnaise every so often. Keep them bathed in the mayo for about 5 minutes and then wash with warm water.

Sep 24, 2008

Who needs Botox when you have bananas? That's right: You can use a banana as an all-natural face mask that moisturizes your skin and leaves it looking and feeling softer. Mash up a medium-sized ripe banana into a smooth paste, then gently apply it to your face and neck. Let it set for 10-20 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water. Another popular mask recipe calls for 1/4 cup plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, and 1 medium banana.

Wash and clean Kappa pieces. Cook either in pressure cook or normally. Drain out water. Mix together cooked kappa pieces and coconut paste in a kadai / bowl. Add 1/4 cup water and salt to taste. Cover with a lid. Stir occasionally. Cook on a slow flame for 10 -15 minutes. Coconut gravy should not be too watery.

Sep 20, 2008

You don't have to go to a spa to give your face a quick assist:To cleanse your skin and tighten the pores, slather some plain yogurt on your face and let it sit for about 20 minutes.

For a revitalizing facial mask, mix 1 teaspoon plain yogurt with the juice from 1/4 slice of orange, some of the orange pulp, and 1 teaspoon aloe. Leave the mixture on your face for at least five minutes before rinsing it off.

Relieve sunburn - For quick, temporary relief of mild sunburn, apply cold plain yogurt. The yogurt adds much needed moisture and, at the same time, its coldness soothes. Rinse with cool water.

Sep 18, 2008

Those who have oily skin need to get rid of the dead cells and grime. A mild cleanser will work best for your skin type. Pure oatmeal scrub can be used to cleanse your skin. You can also use ripe papaya pulp as a mild exfoliator.

Dry skin

A honey cleanser and almond paste is good for your skin. Make a paste of almonds by crushing 10 of them and then add two teaspoons of honey to it. Massage it on the face for five to seven minutes. Rinse your face and pat-dry. One teaspoon honey, one teaspoon jojoba oil can do wonders for our skin. Make a paste of all these and apply it on your face and neck. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then wash it off with water.

Combination skin

Apply on your face and neck a mixture of two teaspoons of rose water, two drops of strawberry oil and fresh orange oil. Leave the pack on for 10 minutes and then wash it off. Follow this and you will look as fresh as ever during the rains.

Sep 16, 2008

India is a land of arts and crafts, which thrive in every corner. These crafts have origin in past and characterize Indian cultural legacy. The plethora of crafts range from metalwork, pottery, jewelry making, glassware, shell craft, stone work to woodcraft etc. Cane and bamboo crafts of India are popular across the globe for their functional and aesthetic appeal. Especially in the northeastern states this is an important source of livelihood for the people.

Craftsmen produce a variety of utilitarian items using natural material like cane and bamboo. Not only these materials, readily available, they are also easy to work with and hardly require the use of specialized tools or equipment.

In India crafts associated with cane and bamboo, have generally been carried out by different tribal societies within the country. The tribals, since ancient times, have been using cane and bamboo to give expression to their art and to earn a living.

Cane and bamboo crafts from Tripura are amongst the best in India, because of their beauty and exquisite designs. A variety of products and items such as furniture, panels and partitions, table mats and floorings, lampshades etc are made here.

Sep 9, 2008

A couple of day’s back, we visited Sri Krishna Sweets, Annanagar, Chennai. It was a pleasant evening and I was really impressed by the ambiance there.

Sri Krishna Sweets has been around for many years now and its pure ghee sweets are famous not only in Chennai but in other parts of Tamilnadu.

A striking feature which I found at the Annanagar outlet was the attitude and crispy clean dress of the attending staff reminiscing a Jewellery shop . Apart from sweets and savories, there were many offerings from the hot plate – like Kara / Sweet Paniyaram, Sweet / coconut / MasalaBoli etc.

To enhance the shopping experience, there was a live violin recital which added to the splendor. With chairs around, one can enjoy the food and the music as well.

Featured here is a pair of Samosas. I found them very rich with liberal sprinkling of Cashew nut splits. Size of samosas were also fulfilling.

Yes, You guessed it right. Of course; these things will not come cheap. A single samosa costs Rs.15/-

Even though the offerings are pocket heavy and loaded with cals , I recommend a visit.

Around this time every year ( Gut feeling tells me it is Sept 20th); Sri Krishna Sweets offers “ Buy 1 kg and get 1 Kg free” Ghee Mysorepa for a day. I have seen serpentine queues last year – but it is worth the trouble - as the offer sweetens the already sweet Mysorepa.